Recording apparatus



April 18, 1944, J. WALKER 2,346,802

RECORDING APPARATUS y Filed Aug. 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Shea?. l

April 18, 1944. I WALKER l 2,346,802

RECORDING APARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 18, 1944 UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE RECORDING APPARATUS Joseph Walker, erwyn, Ill.

Application August 9, 1940, Serial No. 351,920

5 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to recording apparatus, and more in particular to a so-.called pen recorder, in which a movable pen is employed to mark a continuously moving tape. The object of the invention Vis to produce an improved and highly efficient device of this character.

A special object is to provide a pen recorder adapted to make records of two events or series of operations, usually associated with each other, by means of a single pen.

The various features of the invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side view of the complete pen recorder, with cover in place;

Fig. 2 is an end view, showing the switches, push buttons and terminals;

Fig. 3 is a side view on a larger scale than Fig. l, and with the cover in section;

Fig. 4 is a top view, also with the cover in section;

Fig. 5 is a side view similar to Fig. 3, but vtaken lfrom the opposite side;

Fig. 6 is a detail, showing the arrangement for operating the pen;

Figs. 'l and 8 are sectional lviews of the ink reservoir;

Fig. 9 is a circuit drawing, showing the electrical connections; while Figs. 10, 11 and 12 show sample records that may be made by the pen recorder.

Referring to the drawings, the cover I is preferably an aluminum casting of the shape shown in Figs. l and 2. The end wall at the right in i Fig. 1 'has an opening therein which is closed by the switch panel 2, as shown in Fig. 2.

All the apparatus is mounted on a cast metal frame which comprises the base 3 and two apparatus supporting members which are preferably formed integrally therewith. The iirst of these members is indicated at 4 and is provided with a rearward extension 5 and a forward extension 6, the latter having a further extension 'I bent at right angles to the extension 6, as shown in Fig. 4. The other supporting member is indicated at 8.

The switch panel 2 is attached to the base 3 by means of a bracket 9, and is also secured to the support extension 'I by means of two spacers I0 and IIl These spacers are secured to the extension I at one end by screws I3 and at the other end to the panel by means of screws I2.

On the switch panel there are mounted three push buttons I5, IIi and II, ten terminals I8 to iii iii)

2i, inclusive, and three lswitches 28, 29 and A351. The push buttons may be of any suitable type. The terminals shown are socket Itylpe terminals adapted to receive bayonet type plug terminals attached to connecting cords. Any suitable type of terminal or binding post may be used, however. The switches open .and close single circuits and are adapted to remain in either open or closed position.

The paper tape on which the record is made is carried. in the form of a roll 3l, having a core 32, which is rotatable on the cylindrical member 33. The latter has a reduced portion 34 at one end, which lies in a slot in the vertical extension 35 oi member 5, to which it is clamped by means of the knurled nut 35. The roll 3l and core 32 are retained in place by means of the member 3l, which has a knurled head 38 and is threaded onto the extension 4I of the member 33. The member 3l is equipped with guide spokes 39 and the member 33 has similar guide spokes 40. It will be seen that an exhausted roll of tape can quickly be replaced by unscrewing the member 3l, removing the empty core such as 32, and replacing it with a new roll, after which the member 3l can be screwed back on again.

On the vertical supporting member 4, at about the junction of the extensions 5 and 6, there is provided a boss 5i), which is drilled through horizontally and forms a bearing for the shaft 5I. The shaft is enlarged throughoutl its central bearing portion, whereby shoulders are formed near each end. At one end of the shaft a feed spool comprising a body portion 58 and end members Eil and 51 is secured, being clamped against the adjacent shoulder on shaft '5I by means of nut Si?. The body of the feed spool is covered preferably with a layer of rubber 59, as shown in Fig. 3. The end member 51 is provided with teeth to form a gear wheel.

the other end of the shaft the gear 52 is secured by means of a set screw 53. A spacer 34 is introduced between the gear wheel 52 and the end of boss e0 in order to prevent any play in the shaft.

The extension support 5 has a shelf 6I formed integrally therewith, on which there is supported the guide 62 for the tape.

Other means for supporting and guiding the tape comprise a spool 46, rotatably mounted on a bracket 45, and spools 43 and 44, rotatably mounted on a bracket 42. These brackets are attached to the extension support 5, as shown. In addition, there is provided an auxiliary feed roller 53, which is mounted on the pivoted bracket 54.` A spring 65 is provided, which tends to rotate the bracket in such a direction as to cause the roller 83 to press the tape against the rubber surface 59 on the drive spool. The roller 63 is positively driven by a small pinion 86 which is in mesh with the teeth on the end member n51 of the drive spool.

The tape leaves the roll 3| at the rear, as seen best in Fig. 5, passes around spool 44 where it reverses its direction, passes around spool 46 where it again reverses, and after passing over spool 43, arrives at the drive spool 55-51. Here the tape passes around the drive spool, then underneath the roller 63, and finally is received in the guide 62, which directs it to the outlet slot 61 in the cover.

In order to drive the tape feed mechanism, the motor unit is provided, comprising a small synchronous motor adapted to run on commercial power and a set of reducing gears by means of which the shaft 13 is run at the desired speed, preferably 1 R. P. M. The unit is mounted on the support 8 with the pinion 14 in mesh with the gear 52, by means of screws 1| and 12. 'The pinion 14 is secured to shaft 13 of the motor unit by a set screw 15, and hence is Areadily detachable, like the gear 52. This makes it possible to quickly substitute a different set of gears in order to drive the tape feed mechanism at a different speed. For instance, if a faster feed is required for some purpose'v a larger vpinion may be substituted for pinion 14, and a. smaller gear for gear 52. The change in gears may require a slight adjustment of shaft 13 in order to make the gears mesh properly, and accordingly the opening in support 8 through which the screw 1| passes is made in the form of a curved slot, as shown in Fig. 5. It will be appreciated that after loosening screws 1| and 12 the motor unit may be rotated -about screw 12 as a pivot in order to secure the proper gear adjustment, after which the screws may be tightened up again.

The pen and associated parts, including the operating mechanism for the pen, may now be described. One of the operating magnets is indicated at 88. This magnet is mounted on a heel piece 82, the shape of which will be clear from Fig. 3. The heel piece has an ear 83, bent at right angles to its right hand vertical portion, which is secured to the extension support 6 by means of screw 84. The other operating magnet 8| is mounted on a heel piece 81, which is secured to the heel piece 82 by means of two screws as shown. 'Ihere are two springs 9| and 92, four .flat terminal members 90, and a at spring 88, which are clamped between the two heel pieces, the four terminal members 98 being suitably insulated by thin strips of insulating material. The winding of the two magnets may be connected to these terminal members. The magnetv armatures are indicated at 85 and The reference numeral 93 indicates the ink reservoir, which is shown on a larger scale in Figs. 7 and 8. The reservoir 93 is made from a length of metal tubing and is closed at its opposite ends by screw threaded plugs 89 and |58. The reservoir is attached to the lower end of bracket 82 by means of a screw 94. rlhe pen comprises a main horizontal section 95, a Vertical marking section 98, the end of which rests on the tape, and a vertical feed section 9G. The marking section is of reduced diameter and has a fine bore of capillary size. The feed section 98 fits loosely in the bearing member 91, and its end rests on the bottom of the reservoir 93. The bearing member 91, and also the iiller tube 98, pass through the wall of the reservoir as shown, and may be secured in place by soldering. It will be observed that the pen is pivoted in the bearing member 91 for movement in a horizontal plane.

The pen is operated by means of the lever l0 l, which is shown more clearly in Fig. 6. This lever is pivoted on the heel piece 82 by means of a shoulder screw |82 and is slotted at both ends. At the lower end there is a vertical slot |84 for receiving the horizontal portion 95 of the pen. At the upper end there is a diagonal slot |83 through which there projects a short pin 89 attached to the end of spring 88.

The springsI 9| and 92 are equally tensioned toward each other and normally maintain the spring 88 and pin 89 in the position shown. When magnet 88 is energized, its armature 85 presses the spring 88 upward and moves pin 89 upward in the slot m3, thereby rotating lever Il in a clockwise direction as seeen Fig. 6, and moving the pen to the left. When magnet 8| is energized, its armature 88 presses the spring 88 and pin 89 downward, which rotates the lever |0| in a counter-clockwise direction and moves the pen to the right. y

The lever |8| has a side slot |85, communieating with slot |84, and adapted to support the pen with the marking section 9S thereof oi the tape. The bearing at 91 is loose enough so that the pen can be readily shifted from one slot to the other.

The interior of the casing, and particularly that portion thereof where the tape is marked, may be illuminated by means of a small lamp |01. The lamp is mounted on a socket |85, having terminals |88 and |89, and secured to the extension support 5--36 by means of a bracket IIU. When the lamp is lighted the tape and other parts can -be observed through the windowll in the top of the cover.

The apparatus is preferably furnished with an eXtra supply of ink contained in the bottle ||2, which is held in the clip H3, the latter being suitably attached to .the base 3. The reservoir 93 is filled by means of a small syringe I4, which is normally retained in a clip ||1. The syringe has the usual rubber bulb IIB at one end and a small section of fine rubber hose 5 at the other. By means of this syringe a supply of ink can be withdrawn from the bottle and then, after attaching the hose to the filler pipe 98, can be discharged into the reservoir 93.

The syringe is also used for starting the ow of ink through the pen. The end of the hose ||5 is slipped over the marking end of the pen, which is first raised from the tape, and then suction is applied by means of the syringe. The bulb llt` is preferably compressed before the hose ls attached to the pen and is then released gradually until ink appears inthe syringe just above the hose. The syringe can then be removed and the pen can be replaced on the tape. After being started in this way the pen will continue to function until the ink in the reservoir vis exhausted.

It will be observed that the reservoir construction according to which the bearing tube'91 and the filler tube 98 are sealed in the upper wall of the reservoir and extend substantially to the bottom wall thereof affords a protection against loss 11G-volt vsupply line in some convenient manner,`

-as by an extension cord. The motor 1|) is connected in series with these terminals and the ,switch 30.

If an outside supply .of direct current is available, it may be connected up at terminals 22 and 23 or at terminals 24 and 25. If the voltage is about 6 to 15 volts, the connection is made at terminals 22 and 23, but if the voltage is 110 volts,

the connection is made at terminals 25 and 25.

thereby yinchiding the resistance which is com nected between terminals .22 and 24.

The pen recorder is preferably provided with a small 9-volt dry battery, B, for which there is room inside the cover, which is connected across terminals 22 and 23 in series with the switch 29. An outside direct current source should be used if available in order to conserve the dry battery, and at such times the switch 29 is left open.

The positive direct current terminal 23 is connected to terminals 2| and I9, and also to the push buttons l5, IB and I1. 'Ihe negative direct current terminal 22 is connected by Way of switch 28 to the magnets 8|) and 8| and to the lamp |01. Terminal I8, and also push button It, is associated with magnet 80, while terminal 2i) and push button l5 are associated with magnet 8|. The push button I1 is for lighting the lamp |01.

The operation of the pen recorder may now be described. For this purpose it may be assumed that `11G-volt commercial power is connected across terminals 26 and 21, and that a source of direct current, which may be battery B or an outside source, is connected across terminals 22 and 23. It may be assumed also that switch 28 is closed.

When the switch 3|) is closed, current is supplied to the motor unit 1|), and the motor vstarts to run, rotating the shaft 5| by means of pinion 14 and gear 52. Shaft 5| rotates the tape feed spool 56-51 in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 3, The end member 51 of the feed spool drives the roller 63, and the spool and roller cooperate to draw the tape 01T the roll 3| and feed it along through the guide 62 and out through the slot G1 in the casing or cover The moving tape passes underneath the marking end B of the pen, which rests on the tape, and thus a straight median line is drawn on the type parallel to its edge, as indicated at |23, Fig. 4.

If the push button I6 is operated now and held operated for a moment, a circuit will be closed in an. obvious manner for the magnet 8D, which energizes and moves the marking end of the pen to the left in the manner previously described. It follows that during the time the magnet is energized the line traced by the pen will be offset to the left, as indicated at 2|.

If the push button I5 is now operated for a moment, the magnet 8| will be energized and will move the marking end of the pen to the right, causing the pen to trace a line which is offset to the right, as indicated at |22.

It will be understood that in speaking of right and left offset lines, the assumption is made that the tape is being observed as it comes out of the slot 61 in the cover. It will be seen that the pen is capable of drawing a line along the tape having any one of three positions, a central position when no magnet is energized, a left hand position when magnet 80 is energized, and a right hand position when magnet 8| is energized.

The operation of the pen recorder as just described, through the medium of the push but tons I5 and H3, is performed merely for testing purposes, but .aords a convenient opportunity of explaining the function of magnets 8u and 8l and their control over the pen. While the testing is going on, the operation of the pen and other parts can be observed if desired through the window I. For this purpose the push button I1 should be operated to close a circuit for lamp lill', which will light up the interior of the casing.

When the pen recorder is used in practice, the pen is controlled over circuits which are connected at terminals |8|9 and 2li-2|. It may be assumed, for instance, that the pen recorder is to be used for making a record of the producw tion on some type of automatic machine, such as a punch press, for example. In order to connect up the pen recorder', a two-conductor circuit may be employed, connected at terminals 29 and 2|, and leading to the machine, where suitable means is provided for connecting the conductors together when the power is turned on at the chine and for momentarily breaking the circuit at each operation of the machine. Such conn trol means is well known and forms no part of the invention, and hence is not shown herein.

It will be clear that with the foregoing arrangement, the magnet 8| will be energized when the power is turned en, moving the pen to the right and starting an oiset line, as indicated at |38, Fig. 10. At each operation ci machine the circuit is momentarily broken. magnet 8| momentarily deenergizes, and the pen momentarily restores, thus making a series of marks such as |3I. These marks constitute a record of the machine operations, and show the number of parts completed. Short gaps in the steady operation of the machine are indicated at |32 and |33, and a temporary shutdown is indicated at |34. It will be seen that the pen recorder affords means for making a complete record of the production of the machine.

Fig, 11 shows a portion of a record made by the pen recorder in connection with the operation of a concrete mixer. In this case two cir cuits are used. Circuit No. l is connected to terminals 2t and 2| and is closed at the mixer while the actual mixing operation is going on. Circuit No. 2 is connected at terminals I8 and i5 and is closed at the mixer while the same is in loading position. In the unloading position both circuits are open.

With the above described arrangement, magnet 8| is energized during each mixing operation and causes the pen. to draw a line olset to the right, as shown at |35. While the mixer is being emptied, both magnets are deenergized and the pen draws a median line, as shown at |36. During the loading operation magnet 8|? is energized, and the pen draws a line which is offset to the left, as shown at |31. The record makes it possible to check up on the proper operation of the mixer at the end of the day or at any time that a check is deemed necessary, and improper or unusual operations are at once disclosed upon inspection of the record. For instance, the record at |38 shows a short mixing period, While at |39 it shows an exceptionally long loading period.

Fig. 12 shows a portion of a record made when the pen recorder is used to supervise the operation of an elevator. Two circuits are used as in the preceding case and control means is employed so arranged that it will close one circuit when the elevator is going up and the other when the elevator is going down. When the elevator is stopped, both circuits are open. The arrangement preferably also provides for momentarily opening the circuit in use when the elevator .passes a oor, even though the elevator does not stop.

From the above description of the control arrangement the meaning of the record will be readily understood. Thus the lineA at |40 indicates that the elevator is standing still, while the line beginning at |4| indicates upward movement of the elevator. The rst lthree marks such as |42 show that the second, third and fourth floors were passed without stopping. The median line at |43 indicates that the elevator made a stop at the fifth floor. Other stops are indicated at |44, |45, and |46. The short median line at |41 indicates the stop at the top oor, the nineteenth. The line starting at |48 corresponds to `the descent of the elevator. It will be noticed that the record at |49 shows a long stop at the thirteenth oor.

The pen recorder may be used in numerous other situations, as will be apparent from the examples described.

Single conductor control circuits may, of course, be used if desired. When single conductor circuits are to be used, the terminal 23 is connected to ground, and the conductors of the two control circuits are connected to terminals I8 and 20. The control devices at the machines or other apparatus whose operations are to be recorded are then arranged to ground the control conductors.

The invention having been described, that which is considered new and desired to have protected by Letters Patent of the United States is dened in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a recording apparatus, a marking pen, means for moving a mark receiving surface underneath said pen, supporting means for said pen adapting the same to move in a horizontal plane to change the position of the line it draws on said surface, a pair of magnets mounted one above the other, a common element adapter to be moved in either direction in a vertical plane by said magnets, and translating means for causing the movement of said element to control the movement of said pen.

2. In a pen recorder, a base member, an upright switch panel supported at one end of said base, recording apparatus including a mark receiving surface, mechanism for feeding said surface and a marking pen supported on said base, magnets for controlling said pen wired to said panel, and a cover cooperating with said base and panel to enclose said recording apparatus, said cover having an opening at one end which is closed by said panel when the cover is in place.

3. In a pen recorder, a marking pen adapted to draw a line on a moving strip of tape, a vertical lever pivoted between its ends and having its lower end engaging said pen to move the same toward either edge of said tape, said lever having .an inclined slot at the upper end, Va member movable up and down in said slot to actuate said lever, and two electromagnets for moving said member up and down, respectively.

' 4. In a pen recorder, a marking pen comprising a horizontal section pivoted at one end for movement in a horizontal plane and a downwardly extending marking section at the other end, two electromagnets arranged one above the other above the horizontal section of said pen and in the vertical plane thereof, a member movable up and down in said vertical plane by said magnets, respectively, and means for communicating movement of said member to said pen comprising a vertical pivoted lever having a slot at one end through which the horizontal section of said pen extends and inclined cam surfaces at the other end engaged by said member.

5. In a pen recorder, a horizontal tubular ink reservoir and two horizontal electromagnets disposed in superimposed relation in a vertical plane, a horizontal marking pen extending parallel to said reservoir and having a vertical pivot section extending into the said reservoir a vertical pivoted lever for moving said pen on its pivot, armatures for said magnets, and means for operating said lever controlled by said armatures.

6. In a pen recorder, a rectangular base, an upright switch panel supported on said base at one end thereof, elements of said pen recorder mounted on said base and wired to the rear of said panel, and a cover cooperating with said base and panel to enclose said elements, said cover having an opening at one end which is closed by said panel when the cover is in place.

JOSEPH WALKER. 

